Overview

This book traces the history of manuscript production in the Islamic West between the 10th and the 12th centuries. It interrogates the material evidence that survives from this period, paying special attention to the origin and development of Maghrib round scripts, the distinctive form of Arabic writing employed in al-Andalus (Muslim Iberia) and Northwest Africa. More than 200 dated manuscripts written in Maghrib round scripts many of which have not previously been published and are of great historical significance are presented and discussed. This leads to a reconstruction of the activity of Maghrib calligraphers, copyists, notaries and secretaries, creating a better understanding of the development of their practices. Using a blend of art historical methods, palaeographic analyses and a thorough scrutiny of Arabic sources, the author paints a comprehensive and lively picture of Maghrib manuscript culture, from its beginnings under the Umayyads of Cordova until the heyday of the Almohad caliphate. He lifts the veil on a glorious, yet neglected season in the history of Arabic calligraphy, shedding new light on a tradition that was crucial for the creation of the Andalus identity and its spread throughout the medieval Mediterranean.

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9781474499583

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Reviews

Umberto Bongianino offers a systematic, in-depth and illuminating study of the origins and development of the characteristic Maghribi round scripts of the Islamic West (North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula). By combining material and literary evidence, he also vastly enriches our knowledge of the manuscript production in the region. The style is clear and engaging, so that non-specialists can follow the technical arguments, without forgoing depth and detail. This seminal book cannot be missed by anyone interested in the cultural history of Islamicate societies.--Dr. Maribel Fierro, Spanish National Research Council

Author Information

Umberto Bongianino, Departmental Lecturer in Islamic Art and Architecture, Khalili Research Centre, University of Oford.

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